Water closet construction



Jan. 21, 1936 J MURPHY 2,028,468

WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION.

Filed Aug. 22, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 1 415 A 97 :agraE 1:; J6 26 [7t viva Z 07 I I j o rz Nffi Zflzzaxs: v

m maii Jan. 21., 1936. J, N; HY 2,028,468

WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 22, 1954' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 21, 1936. J MURPHY WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 21, 1936 PATENT OFFICE WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION John N. Murphy, Springfield, Ill., assignor oi. one-half to August F. Maurer, Springfield, Ill.

Application August 22, 1934, Serial No. 7 10,951

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in water closet construction of the character disclosed in Patent 1,967,680, issued to me July 24, 1934, and particularly to a novel construction and arrangement whereby the bowl, flush ring, the various communicating conduits and passages associated therewith, and a cover or concealing memher for the reservoir or flush tank are formed in a single unitary integral structure.

One object of the present invention is to provide a water closet bowl and tank cover formed in a single integral structure, said structure having suitable communicating conduits and passages formed therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structure wherein the water in the flush tank may be maintained under a pressure greater than atmospheric.

Another object of the invention is to provide ,a novel form of flushing mechanism capable of operating efficiently under various degrees of water pressure at the source of supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of main flush valve and control means therefor. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement for varying the time required for closing the main flush'valve under varying degrees of supply pressure, thereby varying the period of flushing.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for preventingback flow of water from the bowl to the tank due to possible reduction in pressure or a vacuum occuring in the supply line.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for readily removing the main flush valve when found desirable to make adjustments and/ or necessary repairs thereto. 43 A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational View through a water closet bowl and tank or reservoir embodye ing features of the present invention;

lg. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the tank and main flush valve structure taken substantially as indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational 5 1 view, of a portionoi the tank andrelease valve structure for controlling the operation of the main valve and taken substantially as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view illustrating the manner of conducting water from the outlet paso sage of the tank to the jet conduit of the bowl and taken substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. y

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a unitary structure providing a bowl portion, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 1 I, and having a reservoir or tank I2 mounted thereon adjacent its rear side and secured thereto by means of bolts I3, the bowl portion II providing a receptacle I 4, and having a-fiush ring I5 formed integrally therewith adjacent its upper portion and providing a conduit I6 communicating with the receptacle I4 through a plurality of annularly spaced ports I! formed in the flush ring I5 and inclined at substantially a common or uniform angle around the ring in a manner to produce a swirling or spiral movement of the water across the interior surface of the bowl.

Formed also in the bowl portion I I' of the closet 20 structure, is a waste conduit I8 communicating with the'lower end of the receptacle I4 and leading to a waste pipe of a sewerage system (not shown).

A jet conduit I9 is also formed in the bowl por- 30 tion H and communicates at its lower end through an opening 20 with the lower end of the receptacle I4 in a manner to produce a jet of water in substantial alignment with a portion of the waste conduit I 8, the jet conduit I9 communicating at its opposite or upper end, through a portion 2I (Figs. 1 and 4) extending around a portion of the waste conduit I8, with a passage 22 by which water is conducted from the tank I2 to the flush ring conduit I6 and to the jet conduit I9, a deflector or lip 23 being positioned in the passage 22 in a manner to deflect a portion of the water passing therethrough into the jet conduit I9 and permitting the remaining portion of the water to pass into the flush ring conduit IS.

The tank or reservoir I2 is shown, in the present instance, as formed separately from the bowl portion II, the tank I2 being provided, preferably, with a top portion 24 formed integrally with the main or body portion of the tank in a manner to provide a closed upper end portion against which the air within the tank may be compressed by the water in the lower portion thereof.

The tank I2 isprovided, in the present instance, with an outlet passage adapted to communicate with the passage 22, and is also provided with a tubular air vent member 25 communicating with the outlet passage 25 and shown, in the present instance, as formed integrally with the tank structure i2.

Formed in the vent member 26 between the outlet passage 25 and interior of the tank 12 is an opening 2'! forming a part of said outlet passage and providing Water conducting means between the interior of the tank and the passages 25 and 22 and the flush ring conduit 15 of the bowl portion H, the opening 21 being surrounded by a valve seat or ring 28 formed on the vent member 26.

Formed in the tank 52 is an inlet passage or port 29 adapted to receive a pipe fitting 3i) communicating through a supply pipe 3| with a suitable source of water supply (not shown), which, for convenience, may be referred to as the water main. of a city pressure system, the inlet port 29 communicating at its inner end, through a conduit 32, with a valve chamber 33 at a receiving port 34lformed in the wall thereof, the said valve chamber 33having one of its ends closed, preferably, by' arecessed. closure member or plug 35, the member 35 having a cover member 35a mounted thereon.

Slidabl'y mounted in the valve chamber 33 is the body. portion of a main flush Valve, indicated as a whole by the numeral 35, and comprising spacedv heads 3i and 38 positioned at opposite sides of. the receiving port 34, the said heads being connected together by a hollow'spindle or stem 39 ofsubstantially reduced diametrical dimensions, the head. 3? having an extension 4i provided with. a socket or recess 42 adapted to receive. a valve block 43 formed, preferably, of compressible material, such as rubber or the like,. and adapted; to engage the valve seat 28 formedon'the member 25 in a' manner to prevent thetpassage of water from the tank: l2'to the passage 25 when the valve is closed, the block 43, in the present instance, being secured in. the socket'or. recess 42. by means of a washer and screw 45.

Formed in a wall of the valve chamber'33 is an aperture. 46 communicating with the interior of the tank l2 and, normally, with the space within the chamber 33 between the heads 3'! and 38 of the main valve body 3%, except when the main valve is fully' open, at which time the aperture is covered by the head 31.,

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the head 38 of the main flushvalve 35 is provided withia centrally disposed aperture 4? adapted to receive a draw rod 58 having a notched or peripherally'recessed head 49 secured to its inner end and positioned intthe interior of the hollow spindle or stem 39 of themain valve 39, the rod 48 being of. substantially lessdiameter than that of the aperture 4i, and extending outwardly through the recessed closure member or plug 35 screw threaded into the tank l2v at one end of the valve chamber 33, the plug. 35" being provided with a packing gland 52 to prevent leakage therethrough, while the stem 48 is provided at its outer end with a head 53 to facilitate withdrawal of the main valve 36 when" the plug 35 is removed for the purpose of making desired adjustments or repairs to the valve.

For varying the time required for closing the main flush valve, and th reby varying the period of flush, the hollow spindle or stem 39 is provided with a valve controlled. aperture 55 and with a recessed adjustable plug 55 having a check valve 58 slidably mounted therein and adapted to cooperate with the aperture 54 to control the passage of water therethrough, it being understood that the water may flow from the valve chamber 33 through the aperture 54 into the interior of the hollow spindle or stem 39, and will be prevented from flowing in the opposite direc tion by reason of the check valve 55. From the interior of the hollow spindle or stem 39, the water may pass through the aperture 4! formed in the head 38 into the outer end portion of the valve chamber 33, and into a portion 51 of a release passage communicating at one of its ends With the outer end portion of the valve chamber 33, and at its opposite end through a portion 58 with the interior of the air vent 26, the aperture 41 in the head 38 being of a diameter sumciently greater than that of the rod 48 to permit passage of water therethrough from the interior of the hollow spindle or stem past the head 38 and into the portion of the valve chamber 33 at the end thereofv adjacent the plug 35 and pore tion 51 of the release passage, the rate of passage of thewater through the aperture 47 being de termined by the extent of the opening at the aperture 54 of the spindle 39 as controlled by the check valve 56,- and inaccordance with the position of the adjustable plug 55.

Mounted in the release passage between the portions 5'! and 58 thereof, and in a release valve chamber 59 forming a part of the passage, is a release valve member, indicated as a whole by the numeral 5!, and comprising a body member 62 preferably screw-threaded into a portion of the 1 stem 68, to the inner end of which, within the chamber 59, is secured a valve head 69 adapted to engage a valve seat H formed on the inner end of the body member 52. Surrounding the valve stem 68'within therecess 65 is a ring of yieldable packing material [2, and adjacent thereto is a wear plate '13, the opposite or outer end of the stem 68'havingsecured thereto a retaining member'14,,while a resilient member shown, in the present instance, as a coil spring '65 surrounds the stem 58 in a manner to act between the wear plate 13 andretaining member 14 for normally and yieldingly maintaining the valve head 69 on the valve seat H.

For preventing leakage around the body member. 62, a packing nut 55 is screw-threaded onto the outer end of the body member outside of the tank l2 and is adapted to engage and compress a packing ring Tl against the outer side of the tank. Mounted also on the outer end of the; body member 62 is an annular bracket Eta provided with a recess iii adapted to receive a laterally extending end portion "E9 of a manually actuated release valve operating handle 9!, a flange 82 of the bracket 76a being spaced from the outer end of the body member 52 in a manner to retain the end portion 19 of the handle Within the recess 18.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that a rocking of the handle 8i in any direction will act against the valve stem 58 or the retaining member 74in a manner to move the valve head 69 away from the seat II and permit the passage of water from the release valve chamber 59 through the ports 61 and annular groove 66 into the portion 58 of the release passage extending between the release valve and the air vent member 26.

Mounted in the upper end of the air vent member 26 is a hollow tubular sleeve 83, at the lower end or" which is formed a valve seat 84 adapted to be engaged by a combined float and check valve 85 supported in the lower end of the tube, the valve 85 having a stem 86 passing through .an opening Bl formed in the lower end of the tubular sleeve and having a perforated head 88 secured to its upper end adapted to rest on an inwardly extending flange or shoulder 89 formed on the interior of the tube, the head 88 being provided with apertures or perforations SI for admitting air to the interior of the vent tube as water is drained from the tank into and through the passages and 22 to the flushring conduit I6 and the jet conduit is or the bowl structure I I.

For preventing possible back flow of water from the receptacle or bowl I4 into the tank I2, due to a possible vacuum occurring in the supply pipe (H, the conduit 32 leading from the supply pipe to the valve chamber 33 is provided, at, a

suitable elevation within the tank I2, with a small port 92 providing direct communication between the interior of the conduit and the tank I2. By the use of such an arrangement any vacuum which might occur in the supply pipe 3 I, tending to drain the water from the tank I2, will be broken as soon as the level of the Water drops below the port 92, thereby preventing such vacuum from opening the main flush valve, especially while the pressure, previously accumulated, is retained in the end of the valve chamber 33 adjacent the plug by reason of the closed condition of the release valve SI and the check valve 56. As a further assurance against the action of a vacuum in. the supply pipe'3l tending to draw water from the tank l2, and possibly from the receptacle or bowl I4, a ball check 93 may be positioned in the pipe fitting 3%, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the said ball check being operative to immediately seat itself upon the occurrence of a vacuum or substantial drop in pressure occurring in the supply pipe 3I.

I With the above described illustrative construction and arrangement in mind, the operation of the device is substantially as follows: Assuming that the level of the water in the tank is substantially as indicated, with the air in the top of the tank under pressure equal to that in the pipe 3! of the supply system, and that the chamber 33 and portion 5? of the release passage are filled with water under like pressure, and it is desired to open the main valve, the handle 8| is rocked or tilted to move the valve head 69 (Fig. 3) from its seat II, thereby permitting the water under pressure in the portion 5'! of the release passage and in the right hand end of the valve chamber 33 (Fig. 2) to escape through the ports 61 of the release valve, annular groove 66 and portion 58 of the release passage into the tubular air vent 26, thereby relieving the pressure in the portion of the chamber 33 behind the head 38 and adjacent. the plug 35, and, due to the difference in pressure then obtaining at the opposite ends of the main valve St, the pressure within thetank l2 will quickly move the main valve away from its seat 28, which movement may be assisted by the city supply pressure in the supply pipe '3I,

thus permitting the water from'thetank to flow under'pressure through the opening 21 adjacent the valve seat 28 into the tank outlet passage 25, and thence through the connecting passage 22 into the flush ring conduit I6 from which it passes through the inclined ports I! to the recep tacle I4 formed in the bowl portion II, a portion of the water from the outlet passage 25 being directed by the deflector 23 into the jet conduit I9 and thence through the opening 20 into the bowl.

To avoid water logging in the outletpassage 25, the interior of the air vent member 26 communicates with the passage 25 and with the atmosphere through the opening 81 and perfo-' rations SI of the check valve structure adjacent the'upper portion of the vent member.

When the release valve BI is actuated and the main flush valve is opened, the water, under pressure in the tank l2, will rise in the air vent member 2t, expelling the air therefrom and moving the float and check valve 85 into engagement with the seat 84, thereby preventing a discharge of water from the upper end of the vent member 26.

Upon releasing the handle 8|, the spring 15 will move the valve head 69 of the release valve against its seat H, and water under pressure from the supply pipe 3I and inlet port 29 will fiow through the conduit 32 into the portion of the valve chamber 33 between the heads 31 and 38, thence through the valve controlled aperture 5 into the interior of the hollow spindle or stem 39 of the main valve 36, and thence through the aperture 47 into that portion of the chamber 33 behind the head 38 and adjacent the portion 51 of the release passage, thereby gradually building up a pressure which acts to move the main valve in the opposite direction and against its seat 28, this action of the water behind the head 38 being assisted by the supply pressure acting against the inside surface of the head 37, gradually filling the chamber 33 and portion 51 of the release passage, and slowly moving the main Valve into closed position, the closing movement of the main valve 35 being determined by the degree of opening at the aperture 5 5 in accordance with the position of the valve 56 as controlled by the adjusting plug 55, and allowing sufficient time to practically empty the tank I2 and permit air to enter the tank to avoid water logging, during which time a relatively small quantity of water will pass through the aperture 92 formed in the conduit 32 and into the tank I2. As soon as the valve 36 has been moved sufilciently to position the head 31 to the left of the aperture 46, as viewed in Fig. 2, the water will also flow into the tank 52 through the aperture 46, until the water in the tank has been raised to a level where the pressure of the air in the upper portion of the tank is equal to that in the supply pipe 3!, after, which the operation of the flushing mechanism may be repeated.

For concealing the tank I2, and lending to the appearance of a tank formed integrally with the bowl portion I i, a tank cover member or por tion, indicated as a whole by the numeral 94, is formed integrally with the bowl portion II and comprises a front wall 95, a top wall 96 overlying the tank, and side or end walls 5'7 positioned at opposite ends of the tank and extending downwardly to a position, preferably, below the plane of the bottom portion thereof, the rear side of the cover member 94 being open, as indicated at 98, to permit of the insertion and securing of the reservoir or tank l2 therein by means of the bolts I 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement of closet bowl, tank structure and cover member therefor, and also provides a novel construction and arrangement of automatically operating, manually controlled flushing mechanism.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously diiTerent combinations and subcombinations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of the class described comprising an integral structure having a bowl portion adapted to have a fiuid retaining reservoir positioned and rigidly secured thereon in operative relation thereto, and a cover member formed integrally with said bowl and adapted to surround a substantial portion of the reservoir positioned on the bowl, said cover member having at least one permanently open side for permitting the insertion and positioning of the reservoir therein and in operative relation to said bowl.

2. An article of the class described comprising a single casting of integral material having formed therein a receptacle, a flush ring conduit, a plurality of ports communicating with said conduit and receptacle, and a waste conduit communicating with the receptacle, a separable fluid retaining reservoir mounted rigidly on said casting and having a passage communicating with said flush ring conduit, and an integral unitary cover member formed integrally with said casting and overlying a substantial portion of said reservoir.

3. An article of the class described comprising a single casting of integral material having formed therein a receptacle, a flush ring conduit, a plurality of ports communicating with said conduit and receptacle, a waste conduit and a jet conduit communicating with said receptacle, a separable fluid retaining reservoir mounted rigidly on said casting and having passages communicating with said flush ring and jet conduits, and an integral unitary cover member formed integrally with said casting and having wall portions positioned adjacent the front, top and end walls of said reservoir.

l. An article of the class described comprising 'a single casting of integral material having formed therein a receptacle, a flush ring conduit adjacent the upper portion of the receptacle, a plurality of inclined ports communicating with said flush ring conduit and said receptacle, a waste conduit and a jet conduit communicating with said receptacle adjacent the lower portion thereof, a reservoir mounted on and secured to said casting, said reservoir and casting having communicating passages communicating with said flush ring and jet conduit, an air vent in said reservoir communicating with the atmosphere and with said passages, a valve chamber and release passage communicating with each other and with said reservoir and air vent, respectively, and a cover member formed integrally with said casting and overlying a substantial portion of said reservoir, said cover member having at least one open side for permitting the insertion of the reservoir therein and in operative relation to said receptacle.

5. An article of the class described comprising a reservoir having an outlet passage and a valve chamber formed therein and having a release passage communicating with said chamber and said outlet passage, a hydraulically actuated main valve for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to said outlet passage and having a plurality of spaced heads slidably mounted in said chamber, a water supply conduit communicating with said valve chamber between the heads of said valve and with said reservoir through said chamber for conducting water to said chamber and said reservoir, means operatively related to said conduit for preventing the passage of water in a reverse direction from the reservoir into said supply conduit in the event of a drop in pressure or a vacuum occurring therein, and a manually actuated release valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

6. An article of the class described comprising a reservoir having an outlet passage, inlet port,

valve chamber and release passage formed therein, said release passage communicating with said valve chamber and outlet passage, and a conduit communicating at its respective ends with said inlet port and valve chamber, said conduit having an aperture formed therein communicating with the interior of said reservoir.

'7. An article of the class described comprising a reservoir having an air vent, outlet passage, inlet port, valve chamber and release passage formed therein, said release passage communieating at its respective ends with said valve chamber and said air vent, and a conduit extending a substantial distance into said reservoir and communicating at its respective ends with said inlet port and valve chamber, said conduit having an aperture formed therein adjacent its upper portion communicating with the interior of said reservoir.

8. An article of the class described comprising a closed reservoir having an air vent, outlet passage, inlet port, valve chamber and release passage formed therein, said release passage communicating at its respective ends with said valve chamber and said air vent, a hydraulically actuated main valve positioned in said valve cham- 1 ber, a conduit formed integrally with said reservoir and extending a substantial distance into the reservoir, said conduit communicating at its respective ends with said inlet port and valve chamber and having an aperture formed in its upper portion communicating with the interior of said reservoir, and a manually operated valve positioned in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

9. An article of the class described comprising a reservoir having an outlet passage, an air vent member communicating with the atmosphere and with said passage, said vent member having an opening formed therein providing communication between the interior of the reservoir and said passage, said reservoir having a valve chamber formed therein and a release passage communicating with said chamber and said outlet passage, a hydraulically actuated main valve operatively related to said opening and having a plurality of spaced heads slidably mounted in said chamber for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to said outlet passage, a water supply conduit communicating with said reservoir through said valve chamber between the heads of said main valve, a check valve in said iconducting water from said inlet to said release supply conduit, and manually actuated means in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

10. An article of the class described comprising a reservoir having a closed top portion and an outlet passage, an air vent member communicating with the atmosphere and with said passage, said vent member having an opening formed therein providing communication between the interior of the reservoir and said passage, a check valve in said vent member, said reservoir having a valve chamber formed therein, and a release passage communicating with said chamber and said vent member below said check valve, a hydraulically actuated main valve operatively related to said opening for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to said outlet passage, said valvehaving a plurality of spaced heads slidably mounted in said chamber, a water supply conduit communicating with said valve chamber between the heads of said main valve and with said reservoir through a wall of said chamber, a check valve in said supply conduit, and a manually actuated release valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tank having an inlet port and anoutlet passage formed therein, a top portion adapted to tightly close the upper side of said tank, said tank having a valve chamber and a release passage formed therein, said release passage being adapted to communicate with said chamber and with said outlet passage, a valve seat adjacent said outlet passage, a main flush valve operatively related to said seat for controlling the passage of water therethrough and having a body portion slidably mounted in said chamber, said body portion comprising a plurality of spaced heads, a spindle connecting said heads, one of the heads being positioned betweensaid inlet port and the interior of the tank, the other of said heads being positioned between said inlet port and said release passage, said body portion of the main valve having means formed therein for permitting passage of water from between said heads to said release passage, and a release valve positioned in the release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

12. In a device of the'class described, the combination of a tank having a water inlet and an outlet passage formed therein, a top portion adapted to tightly close the upper si-de of said tank, a hollow air vent member formed integrally with said tank and communicating with the atmosphere and with said outlet passage, a check valve in said vent member, said tank having a valve chamber formed therein adjacent said water inlet and having a release passage formed in said tank, said release passage being adapted to communicate with said chamber and the interior of said vent member, a valve seat forming a part of said outlet passage, a main flush valve operatively related to said seat for controlling the passage of water therethrough and having a body portion slidably mounted in said chamber, said body portion 7 comprising. a plurality of spaced heads, a spindle connecting said heads,

one of said heads being positioned between said' water inlet and the interior of said tank, the other of said heads being positioned between said water inlet and said release passage, said other of the heads having an aperture formed therein communicating with the space in said chamber at opposite sides of said other head for passage, means for controlling the flow of water through said other head, and a manually operated valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

V 13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tank having a water inlet and an outlet passage formed therein, a top portion adapted to tightly close the upper side of said tank, a hollow air vent member formed integrally with said tank and communicating with the I atmosphere and with said outlet passage, a check valve in said vent member, said tank having a valve chamber formed therein adjacent said water inlet and having a release passage formed in said tank, said release passage being adapted water inlet and said release passage, said other' of the heads having an aperture formed therein communicating with theinterior of said spindle for conducting water from said inlet through said apertures to said release passage, means positioned in one of said apertures for controlling the flow of water therethrough, and a manually operated valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

14. An article of the class described comprising a tank having an outlet passage and a valve chamber formed therein and having a release passage communicating with said chamber and said outlet passage, a hydraulically actuated main. 7

Valve for controlling the flow of water from the tank to said outlet passage, said main valve having a body portion comprising spaced heads, a hollow spindle connecting said heads, one of said heads having an aperture formed therein com vmunicating with the interior of said hollow spindle, a check valve positioned in and operatively related to said spindle, a water supply conduit communicating with said chamber between said heads and with said tank through an aperture formed in the wall of said chamber for conducting water to said chamber and tank, means operatively related to said conduit for preventing the passage of water in a reverse direction from the tank into said supply conduit in the event of a drop in pressure or a vacuum occuring therein, and a manually actuated release valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

15. An article of the class described comprising a tank having an outlet passage and a valve chamber formed therein and having a release passage communicating with said chamber and said outlet passage, a hydraulically actuated main valve for controlling the flow of water from the tank to said outlet passage, said main valve having a body portion comprising spaced heads, a hollow spindle connecting said heads, one of said heads having an aperture formed therein communicating with the interior of said hollow spindle, an adjustable check valve positioned in and operatively related to said spindle, a water supply conduit communicating with said chainwbeli between said heads and with said tank through an aperture formed in the wall of said chamber for conducting water to said chamber and tank, said conduit having an aperture formed therein communicating with the interior of said tank for breaking a vacuum occurring in the supply ,line and preventing the passage of water in :a reverse direction from the tank into the supply line, and a manually actuated valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tank having an inlet passageand an outlet passage formed therein, a top portion adapted to tightly close the upper side of said tank, a hollow air vent member in said tank communicating with the atmosphere and with said .outlet passage, a check valve in said vent memsaidchambensaid tank having a release passage communicating with said chamber adjacent the outer end thereof and with the interior of said vent member, a main flush valve having a body portion slidably mounted in said chamber for controlling the passage of water from the tank to said outlet passage, said body portion comprising spaced heads, a hollow spindle connecting said heads, one of said heads having an aperture therein communicating with the interior of said spindle and with the outer end portion of said chamber adjacent said release passage, an adjustable check valve operatively related to said body portion for controlling the passage of water vfrom the portion of said chamber between said heads to the outer end portion of the chamber and to the release passage communicating therewith, means in said inlet passage for preventing the passage of water from said tank through said or a-vacuinnoccurring therein, a manually operated valve in said release passage for controlling the operation of said main valve, and a draw rod operatively related to the main valve and exinlet passage in the event of a drop in pressure 20 tending outwardly through said closure member. 25

JOHN N. MURPHY. 

